Lancaster, SC (Friday 11/22/2013) – On Saturday 11/16/2013 at approximately 12:54 pm Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a wooded area near Mullis Cir. And Wade St. in Lancaster after children playing in the woods discovered a body in the woods. Patrol deputies arrived and found a badly decomposed body.

Crime Scene Investigators and Criminal Investigators responded to the scene and began a detailed investigation. The deceased has been identified as Rickey W.James (33, Wallace, SC).

At the conclusion of the investigation it was determined that on or about Oct. 17, 2013 David Adam Pate (W/M DOB: 05/02/1989 Address:1050 Mullis Circle) and the victim went into wooded area behind Mullis Circle alone. While there Pate killed the victim and concealed his body under a pile of brush. Pate was charged with Murder this morning(11/22/2013) and remains at the Lancaster County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing. Pate was arrested for disorderly conduct on Nov. 11th. He has been jailed at the Detention Center since then on that charge. No motive for the murder has been determined.

Sheriff Faile said,“Our deepest condolences go out to the family of Mr. James. We are thankful that we were able to solve this case so quickly. Our investigators did a great job putting this case together. We suspected Pate almost immediately but had to wait on lab results to prove it. We are thankful he is in jail where he belongs.”